Cape Cod Travel Guide Blog

Something's Brewing on Cape Cod

Thanks to a community of talented, innovative brewers, Cape Cod is quickly becoming a favored destination for those who love well-crafted adult beverages, whether that be beer, wine or even whiskey and vodka.

Several new breweries, distilleries and wineries have opened on the Cape within the last decade, joining the few that were already here. You can buy many of their offerings at local stores, but it’s much more fun to visit these places, tour their facilities and taste their products fresh from the source. Here's a look at some of the places revolutionizing the Cape’s craft beverage scene.

BreweriesBad Martha Brewing - 270 Upper Main Street, Edgartown
This Martha’s Vineyard brewery has a flair for creativity, producing premium craft beers such as Shark Bite, a cucumber and jalapeno lager, and Half Shell, an oyster stout made with chocolate and boiled with fresh oysters harvested from local waters. During the summer, they have outdoor games and live music. Stay tuned, a second location in Falmouth will be opening in Summer 2019.

Barnstable Brewing - 484 W. Main Street, Barnstable
Barnstable Brewing opened in 2017 and brews fresh, hand-crafted beer using the finest ingredients. Their tasting room and patio make for a great gathering spot to sample such beers as their refreshing Blueberry Summer Ale.

Cape Cod Beer - 1336 Phinneys Lane, Hyannis
Open since 2004, Cape Cod Beer is one of the region’s veteran breweries. They brew a wide variety of beers ranging from a tasty IPA to seasonal and experimental brews. Guided tours, tastings and a retail store are open year-round; in season, enjoy a tented beer garden and weekly farmers’ market, which often features local musicians.

Cisco Brewers - 5 Bartlett Farm Road, Nantucket
Besides brewing beer, Cisco is also a winery and distillery. The brewery was started in the 1990s, and today they offer specialty and seasonal beers, along with classics like their Whale’s Tale Pale Ale. Their tours and tastings are popular with both islanders and visitors, and Cisco often hosts events with live music and food trucks.

Devil’s Purse Brewing Co. - 120 Great Western Road, South Dennis
What started as a hobby between two friends has blossomed into Devil’s Purse, one of the region’s finest new breweries. Their location features a tasting room where visitors can sample their European-inspired ales. Outside food is welcome, as are kids and leashed dogs.

Hog Island Beer Co. - 28 West Road, Orleans
With a name inspired by an island rumored to hold buried pirate treasure, Hog Island bills itself as the outermost brewery on Cape Cod. It is open to the public Friday through Sunday and features a diverse selection of tasty craft brews, including White Shark Wheat and Outermost IPA.

Naukabout Brewery - 13 Lake Avenue, Mashpee
Naukabout isn’t new to the craft beer scene, but their brewery is, having just opened on Cape Cod in 2018. Tucked into the woods, the brewery includes a rotating cast of food trucks, a terraced patio and a rustic taproom where visitors can taste their small-batch, hop-forward beers.

Offshore Ale Company - 30 Kennebec Avenue, Oak Bluffs
Located on Martha’s Vineyard, Offshore Ale Company was created in 1997 and has become the island’s premier brewpub, boasting a full menu and rotating tap. Their laid-back vibe is part of the appeal (diners are encouraged to toss the shells of the restaurant’s complimentary peanuts right on the floor), but their wide selection of exceptional beers is what keeps patrons coming back.

Shoal Hope Ciderworks - Provincetown
Shoal Hope, which began brewing in 2017, specializes in hard ciders with a twist. Their Monument Cider is flavored with dark brown sugar and their Honey Baby Cider is flavored with cranberry bog honey, while their Little Tart Cider features a blend of apple and cranberry juices.

WineriesCape Cod Cod Winery - 4 Oxbow Road, East Falmouth
Cape Cod Winery’s grapevines are planted in sandy gravel soil and on gentle slopes, which are ideal for wine grape growing and parallel to the great vineyards of southern France and Italy. The winery, located in a 19th-century farmhouse, often hosts events, including live music, paint nights and yoga.

First Crush Winery - 527 Main Street, Harwich
Deriving its name from the first step in the wine-making process, First Crush produces exquisite, award-winning wines ranging from cabernet sauvignon and zinfandel to a cranberry-raisin sauvignon blanc. Tours and tastings are held year-round.

Nantucket Vineyard - 5 Bartlett Farm Road, Nantucket
The winery arm of Cisco Brewers, Nantucket Vineyard was established in 1981. They combine Old World techniques with innovative technology to create unique and delicious wines, including a cranberry-infused pink blush and a sangria.

Plymouth Bay Winery - 114 Water Street, Plymouth
While not technically on Cape Cod, Plymouth Bay Winery is too close—and too good—to exclude. This winery features wines produced from locally grown native grapes and berries; the aromatic Widow’s Walk and semi-dry spicy Cranberry Blush are among their best sellers.

Truro Vineyards - 11 Shore Road, North Truro
Located on five acres of farmland, Truro Vineyards produces wine with intense flavor and lush varietal character. A tasting room and gift shop are located in a carefully restored 1830s farmhouse, and tours and a food truck are offered in season. The wines in their Lighthouse Series come in keepsake lighthouse-shaped b lighthouse-shaped bottles.

Oysterville Vodka - Osterville
Created by Osterville resident Charlotte Canzano, Oysterville Vodka is a gluten-free, smooth-tasting vodka made from corn in small batches using the heart of the mash. Cocktail recipes are featured on the website; one sweet and summery idea is to juice two cantaloupes into a large mason jar and then add “your oyster” and soda.

South Hollow Spirits - 11 Shore Road, North Truro
Led by the team behind Truro Vineyards, South Hollow produces flavorful small-batch spirits, including gin and a variety of handcrafted rums. They also use locally sourced ingredients, and their products are free of artificial colors, sweeteners and flavorings.

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